How to troubleshoot ACPI.sys error in Windows 10?

ACPI.sys is a system file in the Windows operating system. It is a driver programmed to manage the power consumption for hardware devices. ACPI.sys sometimes works with other system files or processes to carry out certain operations.

Certain Blue Screen of Death error messages define issues affecting the ACPI.sys file or driver. Blue Screen of Death errors (sometimes abbreviated as BSODs) make up a special category of fatal errors on Windows. Here are some of the error messages that come up to inform users of problems affecting the ACPI.sys file:

• sys cannot be found

• sys is missing

• The program cannot start because ACPI.sys is missing

• sys is corrupted

How to fix ACPI.sys Blue Screen Errors on Windows 10 devices

We have provided enough information about the Blue Screen of Death error in view. You probably ended up on this page to find out to how to fix the ACPI.sys blue screen error quickly. Well, it is time we gave you what you came for.

You must go through the solutions in the order they have been listed below:

1. Update the affected driver:

The vast majority of Blue Screen of Death errors are a result of malfunctioning or faulty drivers. The ACPI.sys BSOD is hardly any different. With this specific file being involved, there is a reasonable probability that the driver is missing or corrupted.

Fixing the problem requires you to download and install a replacement for the affected driver. You can access the list of drivers operating on your computer through the Device Manager app. Go through the steps below to launch it:

• Bring up the Power User menu. You can do this by right-clicking on the Windows Start icon (usually located at the right bottom corner of your PC’s screen).
• From the list of applications or options you see, click on Device Manager.

To expand a category, double-click on it. Windows will move to display the devices that make up the category.

You can update a device’s driver by right-clicking on the corresponding entry, then selecting the Update driver option. To complete the procedure, you have to follow the instructions displayed on your screen.

If everything goes well, Windows will end up downloading the required driver software. You will get to run the files and install them.

If you were not able to get Windows to help you fetch and install the needed driver, you have to search for the driver online yourself and install it. The operations involved are relatively complicated, though. You might not even find the needed driver on the internet.

We advise you install Auslogics Driver Updater. This program is designed to do all the heavy lifting for you. It will identify the missing, corrupted or outdated device drivers (after it scans your PC), then it will move on to search for and download the updated (manufacturer-recommended) versions of the drivers.

In the end, the program will present the downloaded drivers, and all you have to do is click on a button to get them installed. After you finish installing the drivers, you should get a prompt to restart your PC (or you can do it yourself if the prompt fails to show up).

2. Disconnect some devices:

If you encountered the Blue Screen of Death error while external devices were connected to your computer, you have to do away with them completely and see if things change.

Some peripherals are incompatible with one another. In other words, the operations of some external devices sometimes come in conflict with other tools when they are in use on a specific computer.

You can do some simple tests to identify the problematic devices. Disconnect all devices, then try reconnecting them one after the other. Each time you connect a new device, you must try to recreate the ACPI.sys Blue Screen of Death error and see how far you get.

If you use a Samsung device, your SSD might actually have something to do with the BSOD. A good number of users with Samsung PCs were able to fix the problem by removing their SSDs and restoring Windows 10. You can follow the instructions below to carry out this operation:

• First, you have to disconnect your SSD drive, then move on to switch on your PC. A Samsung prompt will show up and ask you to press F4.

Your computer should end up in the Recovery Mode screen.

• At this stage, you have to reconnect your SSD. You can now choose the option to restore your operating system. The process might take a while. You must be prepared to wait for as long as necessary.
• Now, you must run SW or Samsung update software to round up things. The latest BIOS version for your PC will now be installed.
• After you are done installing all the necessary software, you must boot your PC into Windows and check if the Blue Screen of Death error you encountered earlier can still be triggered.

3. Reinstall a specific ACPI driver:

Some users managed to resolve the Blue Screen of Death problem by uninstalling the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control method driver, then reinstalling it. It is likely that the software changes resulting from the removal and reinstallation operations of the driver caused the issue to go away.

The proposed procedure is harmless, so you may want to try it and see if you can obtain the same result as other users did. The instructions below will guide you to remove a driver and reinstall it:

• First, you have to open the Device Manager app. We explained how to do this in the first step of the first fix (scroll up if you have to).
• You have to go through the list of device groups by clicking on the available categories to see the devices they contain. You must locate the Microsoft ACPI Compliant Control method battery.
• Right-click on that device. Some options will show up. Select Uninstall device. Windows will now initiate the necessary operations to remove the selected device.
• Now, to reinstall the driver, you must click the Scan for hardware changes option (its icon is usually one of the objects close to the top of the Device Manager program window).

Your system should now detect that a specific device driver is missing. Windows will move on to install the needed software.

• Once your system completes the reinstallation operations, you must move on to reboot Windows. After your PC restarts, you must verify that the ACPI Blue Screen of Death error is no longer active.

4. Perform checks on your disk:

If you are still struggling to stop your PC from going down with ACPI.sys Blue Screens of Death, there is a good chance that the faults or errors affecting your disk have something to do with the problem.

Fortunately, Windows is equipped with a built-in program you can use to scan your hard disks or check the state of data stored on it. We have provided some instructions on using the utility below:

• Launch the File Explorer app. You can do this clicking on the program icon (usually one of the objects on the taskbar on most desktops screens).

Alternatively, you can use the combination of the following keys: Windows button + Letter E key.

• Click on This PC or My Computer (depending on whichever one you see). Now, you must right-click on Local Disk (C:) to see some options, then click on Properties.
• On the Local Disk (C:) Properties window, you must navigate to the Tools tab. There, under the Error checking menu, you should see the Check button, which you must click on to continue.
• A small window or dialog box will appear soon enough, and there, you have to click on the Scan drive button. Now, we have taken you as far as we can for this operation. At this point, you are better off following the on-screen instructions to initiate the scan.

Windows should inform you of the issues it detected and what it did to fix them.

• Regardless of the results displayed, we recommend you restart your computer and see if the work you did has had any effect on the ACPI Blue Screen of Death troubling your device.

5. Use System Restore:

System Restore might provide you with a lifeline even after other procedures have failed you. Here, you are not going to try to fix the Blue Screen of Death problem outrightly. You are going to circumvent or eliminate it by restoring your PC to a point in the past where the BSOD cannot be triggered or a period where the factors (or issues) that gave rise to it are non-existent.

Note: You can only use this fix if your system was set up to create restore points before the issues came to be. Go through the steps below once you are ready to restore your computer to an old state:

• If you can boot into Windows without issues, then you can launch the System Restore app from the normal operating system environment. Here, however, we are going to show you how to access the System Restore program from the Automatic Repair Screen.
• Switch off your PC (if it is on currently). Press its power button to turn it on. While Windows is booting, you must press (and hold) the power button again.

Repeat the step above three times at least. You should eventually see the Preparing Automatic Repair message. Be patient while Windows is diagnosing your PC to identify problems.

• Your computer will eventually display the Automatic Repair menu. There, you should see the Advanced options button, which you must click on.
• From the list of options on the next screen, you have to click on Troubleshoot. From the options available under Troubleshoot, click on Advanced options.
• Under the Advanced options screen, you should see System Restore. Click on it.
• Now, you can follow the instructions on your screen as they appear to restore your PC using a specific restore point. You will do well to select a restore point that is far enough in the past.

This way, you get to ensure that your PC reverts to a state in the past where the ACPI.sys Blue Screen of Death is unlikely to be triggered.

6. Try installing Windows 10 in UEFI:

This procedure is a specific fix for users who are unable to install Windows 10 on their devices due to the ACPI.sys Blue Screen of Death error. If you are one of them, then the installation of Windows 10 in UEFI mode is your best bet for resolving the issue.

See the instructions below on installing Windows 10 in UEFI mode:

• First, you have to create a bootable USB flash drive. You can easily do this by downloading the Windows 10 ISO file from Microsoft’s website, then using the Media Creation Tool to place the file on your drive.

If you are in doubt on how to go about this, you can check online for detailed instructions.

• At this point, we have to assume you have the USB flash drive ready. Connect the drive to one of your PC ports. Switch on your computer. While your PC is booting, you must press the F11 button to select a boot device or alter the boot sequence.

The required button varies per device or computer brand. If the F11 button fails to deliver the expected result, you must check online for the right key. The model of your PC and similar information should help you narrow down your search.

• At this stage, if you pressed the appropriate key, you should see a list of options consisting of boot drives. Select UEFI: the USB Flash drive you inserted.
• Now, you can continue your Windows 10 installation by following the instructions displayed. This time, everything should go smoothly.

Other things to try to resolve the ACPI.sys Blue Screen of Death error.

If you are yet to find out how to get rid of the ACPI.sys is missing or corrupted message, you must continue with the fixes below:

7. Disable AHCI in your BIOS:

AHCI (an acronym for Advanced Host Controller Interface) typically allows software to communicate with SATA devices. This hardware mechanism is a useful tool, but if you are struggling with a Blue Screen of Death due to its operations, you will not mind disabling it altogether.

Some users reported that they stopped seeing the ACPI.sys after they disabled AHCI on their PCs. Perhaps, you too could obtain the same result from such an operation.

8. Set ACPI mode to S1 in your BIOS:

This procedure is the ideal fix for users who encounter the ACPI.sys BSOD not long after they wake their PC up from sleep. The changes brought about by the use of the S1 parameters should somehow reduce your PC’s susceptibility to the Blue Screen of Death issue.

Well, you have to boot up your PC and enter its BIOS screen. We recommend you take the necessary precautions while working on such top-level device settings. Consult your PC manufacturer data page or motherboard manual for detailed instructions on how to go about things here.

9. Get rid of all overclocking settings:

If you employ an overclocking program to enhance your PC’s performance, you have to disable the settings and even go a step further to remove the program. The persistent Blue Screen of Death errors are probably a result of your computer’s CPU being forced to work at its maximum capability (or operate beyond its limits).

If you set your RAM to work higher than its default frequency range, we advise you undo the setting. In general, we recommend you use the standard configuration or parameters for your hardware devices and see if things improve.

10. Alter your OS image ID in your BIOS:

The vast majority of the fixes we outlined in the additional list of solutions have something to do with BIOS, and this procedure falls along the same lines. Some users were reported to have resolved the problem by altering a specific setting.

You have to enter your BIOS screen, navigate through the necessary options to end up on the System Component menu or configuration. There, you should be able to set your OS Image ID to Windows. Exit your BIOS, reboot your PC and take note of changes.

11. Reset the entirety of your BIOS to their default settings:

If the previous operations you carried out on your BIOS failed to do enough to prevent the ACPI.sys Blue Screen of Death from reappearing, then this final procedure is probably your last resort. Perhaps, some time ago, you accidentally changed something in your BIOS, and this alteration led to the appearance of the BSOD. A rogue or an unauthorized program could also be responsible.

At this point, you are probably not interested in finding out what or who is to blame. Simply enter your BIOS, then navigate to its Advanced options menu or screen. There, you should find a button or switch that allows you to restore all parameters to their default values.